Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-04-15
An Olympian Oracle Speaks.
PUT NONE BUT DEMOCRATS ON GUARD.
To the editor of the Standard.

PUT NONE BUT DEMOCRATS ON GUARD.
To the editor of the Standard.
The editorial in your issue of April
LIST, entitled "The Mugwaumpian Pol
icy" was exceedingly well timed. The
writer, in common with the mass of
Democrats, heartily approves of every
statement and sentiment therein ex-
pressed. The evil is one which, being
extended through the whole country,
threatens the very life of the Demo-
cratic party, and it was, therefore, EN-
inently proper that the STANDARD,
as the exponent of Democratic
thought at the capital of the Terrific
ry, should speak in plain and unmis-
taxable language. You, Mr.. Editor,
are specially qualified to speak on this
subject. You have been an observer
here of political methods for more
than twenty years. You know at the
ways that are dark and tricks that
are vain," of the coterie known by the
unenviable name of 1.-THE Federal
Ring" that has held rule here unin-
terruptedly for the last fourteen years.
You know that as the British Govern
ment keeps constantly on hand fund
for the corruption of talented, patriotic
or influential Irishmen, so they of the
" ring" are always prepared to corrupt
and mislead influential or talented
Democrats for their own selfish pur-
poses. They have succeeded in con-
trolling, under a Democratic Admins
tratiOn for two years, the local post
Office, the Surveyor Generals office,
the offices of Register and Receiver OF
Public Lands and of the Governor and
Secretary OF the Territory. Well may
Democrats ask, When is this thing
going to end? Your reasons why the
offices should be into the hands of tried
Democrats, while correct, did not &C
far enough. The question as to who
should fill Federal offices under Dem
ocratic Administration is one broader
than the mere consideration of emol
ument of office, or as to whether par
ticular individual should fill particu
lar official position. The great Demo
cratic party was placed by the peopl,
of the United States on March 4, 1885
in control OF the Administration of the
Federal Government for four years
The people, be they Democrats, Mug
wumps or Republicans, expect then
to be, and will hold the Democratic
party strictly responsible, in 1888, fol
the conduct of every Federal Office
throughout the Union.
The Administration and the party
at large cannot avoid the issue if they
would. The crisis approaches. The
Mugwumpian policy SO far pursued by
Democrats in office from the President
down to the smallest Presidential post
Office has already shaken the faith o.
the rank and file in the virtue of theil
leaders. They hesitate and the labor
followers of Henry George and othel
agitators whisper in their ears the in
terrogatory, "What honest man o.
spirit would have it said of him in de
rision, while the speaker points the
slow moving finger Of scorn, you be
long to the party that keeps its worst
political enemies in Office" "Some
thing too much of this" I merely in
tended to say, Mr.. Editor, in the name
of true Democracy and the spirit Of
Andrew Jackson, go ahead in your
course of criticism until Democratic
Federal officials either right the
wrong complained of or you create a
public sentiment here that will com.
pei their resignation or removal. Let
these gentlemen understand without
further ceremony that the party and
the public at large mean business on
this question. JAQUEs.
OLYMPIA, April Is, 1887.